“Be kind. For everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle we know nothing about.”

Whether you believe in this wisdom or not, it’s hard to deny that we all couldn’t benefit from spreading a little bit more kindness around.

No one goes through life trying to be a horrible person. Most of us were actually taught quite the opposite! From a young age we learned to share our toys, make others feel included and use our pleases and thank-you’s. But somewhere along the way, we somehow got caught up in the idea that being kind takes a great deal of time and effort.

That’s why I was captivated to hear about Random Acts of Kindness Week. #RAKWeek2017 takes place from February 12-19th, and is celebrated nationwide to encourage small acts of kindness. (Talk about a simple, yet powerful movement!) Imagine if we all did just one random act of kindness daily, how much better the world would be?

And even more — how much more connected you’d feel to your higher self?!

If you’ve been battling with the winter blues and could use a pick-me up, these benefits are bound to encourage you to brighten someone’s day.

Benefits of Being Kind:

Gives you a Sense of Purpose

In our busy moving society, it’s so easy for us to get wrapped up in our jobs and to-do lists. This makes us feel like we’re never enough, or accomplishing enough. By giving back we’re not only contributing to making the world a better place, but it also helps to make our lives feel more meaningful.

Helps you To Let Go of the Past

We have all done things we’re not proud of. By leading with love and doing good by others, this validates to yourself that you’re not such a bad person after all. It also creates space for forgiveness. You’ll see that the person you’re becoming is certainly more important than the person you used to be.

Health Benefits

Countless studies have shown that giving is actually good for your health! Not only does it increase your happiness, but it’s also said to lengthen your lifespan as well.

Get ‘High’ from Helping Others

When you put more of your attention on others, this helps to take your mind off your own problems. You’ll also start to see how quickly one small act of kindness can go. Just a small simple gesture can truly make a massive impact in someone’s life. It just might even change someone’s outlook on the world, and could restore their faith in humanity completely.

What Goes Around Comes Around

You know what they say! No good deed goes unnoticed. When you’re constantly showing up for others people are going to start to take inventory of that. When you’re the one in need of a helping hand, people will be more than happy to return that kindness back to you. It’s really ends up being this beautiful balance of give and receive.

It doesn’t have to cost you a ton of money or time to be kind. With these suggestions you’ll learn how to start throwing kindness around like confetti (without the messy cleanup)! Ideas to Get you Started:

What acts of kindness are you going to start bringing into the world, and what benefits are you looking forward to receiving from your good deed?

ABOUT THE EXPERT

Sairah Pettes

Sairah works with Healthoholics as an Interdepartmental Assistant. You’ll see her at our reception desk, managing our bulk food section, and receiving inventory. Behind the scenes, Sairah is taking an active role in maintaining our website, e-store and more!

When she’s not at Healthoholics, Sairah is changing the world as a Body Positive, Intuitive Eating Coach.